UML PROTEST IN KATHMANDU MOSTLY PEACEFUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002692 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM NP SUBJECT: UML PROTEST IN KATHMANDU MOSTLY PEACEFUL REF: A. KATHMANDU 2605 ¶B. KATHMANDU 2529 ¶C. KATHMANDU 2685 Classified By: CDA Elisabeth I. Millard, Reason 1.4 (b/d) UML's Kathmandu Demonstration a Success -------------- ¶1. (C) The December 2 demonstration organized in Kathmandu by the CPN-UML against the "autocratic monarchy" was largely peaceful. Emboffs observing the demonstration estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 people participated. They said the atmosphere was not tense (the participants sang "We Shall Overcome"),although many police were present. UML sources told us that, as of mid-day, the police had not made any arrests. The UN OHCHR and other local human rights organizations were visibly present monitoring the meeting. The protest dispersed peacefully at about 1530 local time. According to unconfirmed local press reports, pro-royalists attacked the dispersing demonstrators at 1545 local time, and the police subsequently intervened with a baton charge and used tear gas canisters. However, Emboffs, who did not leave the site until 1600 after the majority of the crowd had left, observed no violence. Respected local NGO INSEC told us that the police had had to break up a minor scuffle between pro-Royalists and the demonstrators, but police did not have to use tear gas. ¶2. (C) There had been allegations that the security forces would prevent people from entering Kathmandu Valley to participate in the rally. An Embassy contact told us that the security forces had set up mobile health clinics along the roads leading into the Valley, and thereby might have diverted some of the participants. King's Return Unhindered -------------- ¶3. (C) The demonstration took place as planned and the crowd peacefully dispersed before the King's plane landed. The police had roped the site off from the road in order to prevent the crowd from spilling into the road. There had been an unfounded rumor that the government had restricted the site of the protest for fear the demonstration would interfere with the King's travel back to the Palace. Police sources confirmed that police had arrested seventeen people for throwing stones at the vehicles of the King and the Crown Prince as the cars travelled to the airport. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) The confluence of the demonstration with the last day of the Maoist cease-fire and the King's return to Nepal after a three week absence had led to a fear of popular unrest. However, the District Administration Office worked to dispel rumors that it had restricted the site of the protest or was doing anything to interfere with the UML's right to assemble; the police acted responsibly; the Maoists extended their cease-fire (ref C),and the UML ensured that the demonstration was largely peaceful. MILLARD